Books from Ireland

Ray is a solitary, middle-aged man who has spent most of his life isolated from the world. When he adopts One Eye, a small, scarred dog with a troubled past, the two unlikely companions begin to build a fragile life together. Both are outsiders, accustomed to being misunderstood and keeping their distance from others. But when an unfortunate incident turns their quiet existence upside down, they leave their coastal village and set out on the road, travelling through the Irish countryside. Told in an intimate, unconventional voice addressed to the dog, Spill Simmer Falter Wither traces a year through the changing seasons. Sara Baume combines lyrical descriptions of the natural world with a moving portrait of loneliness, vulnerability, and unexpected companionship. This tender yet unsentimental novel asks whether two damaged souls can find belonging in one another when the wider world has little room for either of them.

After the isolation of the pandemic, Irish writer and artist Sara Baume discovers a painting at a small exhibition in West Cork that captivates her. Its creator, Mollie Douthit, is an American artist living alone in a remote coastal cabin. The two women form an unexpected friendship, finding common ground in their artistic practices, love of nature, solitary habits, and complicated relationships with other people. They establish a monthly ritual of sharing soup and swimming in the Atlantic, while Mollie prepares a new exhibition inspired by memories of her childhood. As their friendship deepens, Baume begins writing about Mollie’s paintings, exploring whether words can capture the elusive, dreamlike quality of visual art. But life soon disrupts their quiet routines, bringing loss, pain, and uncertainty. Blending memoir, art criticism, and intimate reflection, Opening Night examines how friendship shapes our understanding of ourselves, our memories, and the world around us. It is a thoughtful meditation on creativity, solitude, and the surprising connections that make life meaningful.